36. Likewise also the second said: "I am Strife, strife of strifes. I bring timbers, stones, hangers, my weapons on the spot. But I have an angel who frustrates me, Baruchiachêl."
37. Likewise also the third said: " I am called Klothod, which is battle, and I cause the well-behaved to scatter and fall foul one of the other. And why do I say so much? I have an angel that frustrates me, Marmarath."
38. Likewise also the fourth said: "I cause men to forget their sobriety and moderation. I part them and split them into parties; for Strife follows me hand in hand. I rend the husband from the sharer of his bed, and children from parents, and brothers from sisters. But why tell so much to my despite? I have an angel that frustrates me, the great Balthial."
39. Likewise also the fifth said: "I am Power. By power I raise up tyrants and tear down kings. To all rebels I furnish power. I have an angel that frustrates me, Asteraôth."
40. Likewise also the sixth said: "I am Error[1], O King Solomon. And I will make thee to err, as I have before made thee to err, when I caused thee to slay thy own brother[2]. I will lead you into error, so as to pry into graves[3]; and I teach them that dig, and I lead errant souls away from all piety, and many other evil traits are mine. But I have an angel that frustrates me, Uriel."
41. Likewise also the seventh said: "I am the worst, and I make thee worse off than thou wast; because I will impose the bonds of Artemis[4]. But the locust[5] will set me free, for by means thereof is it fated that thou shalt achieve my desire … For if one were wise, he would not turn his steps toward me."
42. So I Solomon, having heard and wondered, sealed them with my ring; and since they were so considerable, I bade them dig the foundations of the Temple of God. For the length of it was 250 cubits. And I bade them be industrious, and with one murmur of joint protest they began to perform the tasks enjoined.
- ↑ Fabricius, Cod. Pseudepigr. V. T. vol. I, p. 1047, reads Klothon, which must be i. q. (
Greek characters), which Hesychius explains thus: (Greek characters).
- ↑ See 1 Kings ii. 25.
- ↑ A reference to necromancy, of which the object was to oblige the spirit of the dead to enter oneself.
- ↑ (Greek characters) in MS. I have adopted Fleck's suggestion (Greek characters).
- ↑ This refers to the closing incident narrated in the Testament, the sacrificing by Solomon of five locusts to Moloch. Tatian, Orat. ad Graecos, cap. 12, speaks of (Greek characters). She is the same as Hecate.
